One voice, in particular, rose above the others. It said:
"No can go in! The Master he am busily! No can go in!"
"Nonsense, Koku!" exclaimed a man, and at the sound of his
voice Tom and Ned smiled. "Nonsense! Of course I can go in! Why,
bless my watch fob, I must go in! I've got the greatest
proposition to lay before Tom Swift that he ever heard of!
There's at least a million in it! Let me pass, Koku!"
"Mr. Damon!" murmured Tom Swift. "I wonder what he has on his
mind now
As he spoke the door opened rather violently and a short, stout
man, evidently much excited, fairly burst into the room,
followed, more sedately, by a stranger.
CHAPTER II
A STRANGE OFFER
"Hello, Tom Swift! Hello, Ned! Glad to see you both! Busy, as
usual, I'll wager. Bless my check book! I never saw you when you
weren't busy at some scheme or other, Tom, my boy. But I won't
take up much of your time. Tom Swift, let me introduce my friend,
Mr. Dixwell Hardley. Mr. Hardley, shake hands with Tom Swift, one
of the youngest, and yet one of the greatest, inventors in the
world! I've told you a little about him, but it would take me all
day to tell you what he really has done and--"
"Hold on, Mr.
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